5. Fold one of the bag exterior pieces in half lengthwise to find the center at the top. Mark the center with a pin.

6. Fold the button loop in half and pin the ends at the top of the bag, as shown above. Sew across the top, 1/4'' from the edge to secure the button loop in place.

7. Wrap the D-ring loop pieces around the 1'' D-rings and sew across the top edges. Set the two D-ring loop pieces aside for now.

Assembling the Tote Bag:

1. Pin the exterior sides right sides together along the sides and bottom.

2. Stitch along the side and bottom edges (not around the cut out corners). Press the seams open.

3. Flatten the side and bottom seams of the bag together at the cut out corners to make a straight edge. Pin.

4. Stitch across this edge to box the corner. Repeat on the other corner.

5. Pin the bag lining pieces right sides together and sew the side and bottom edges, except leave a 5-6'' opening for turning the bag right side out later. Press the seams open.

Box the corners of the lining also, as seen in Steps 3-4 above.

6. Turn the bag exterior right side out. Pin the D-ring loops over the side seams. Baste in place about 1/4'' from the top edge.

7. With the bag exterior right side out, and the bag lining wrong side out, place the lining over the exterior. Pin together around the top edges. Stitch all the way around the top edge of the bag.

8. Press the top edge seam open, and then clip the seam allowances (just like you did with the curved top edges of the pocket pieces).

9. Turn the bag right side out through the opening in the lining.

10. Press the edges at the opening in the lining to the inside. Sew the opening closed.

11. Press the top edge of the bag flat. Topstitch around the bag, 1/4'' from the top edge.

Make the Bag Strap:

1. Press the 4'' x 40'' strip of fabric the same way that you pressed the button and D-ring loops.

2. Insert the 1'' x 37'' strip of fusible fleece inside the folds of the strap piece. The fusible fleece strip is 3'' shorter, so there will be an extra 1 1/2'' bit without fleece at either end. Fold the strap together and press again.

3. Topstitch along both long edges of the strap 1/8'' from the edge.

4. Press the ends over 1/2''.

5. Slide one end of the strap through a swivel snap clip and fold it over about 1''.

6. Stitch across the strap twice to secure the clip. Repeat with the other swivel snap clip at the other end of the strap.

Note: If you want to skip the swivel snap clips, you can sew the strap directly to the D-rings on the bag.

Attach the strap to the bag, and you are done!

If you make one, be sure to upload a picture in one of my Show Off Saturday Picture Party posts. Thanks so much for reading my blog!

Disclosure: some of my posts contain affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of those links I may receive a small commission, so thank you for supporting SewCanShe when you shop! All of the opinions are my own and I only suggest products that I actually use. :)